Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An improvised substitute for something lacking; a temporary expedient.
  • adjective Serving as a stopgap.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Temporary; short-term.
  • noun A temporary measure or short-term fix used until something better can be obtained.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • In the meantime, it was asking publishers to cover more of the costs through a 7-cent surcharge in what it characterized as a stopgap measure.

    Magazine Wholesaler Case Heads to Court 2010

  • Even as a short-term stopgap measure in high-needs areas, I think it's doing more harm to teaching than good.

    Shaun Johnson: Let Me Tell You About Teach for America Shaun Johnson 2011

  • The Senate approved $219 billion in stopgap spending bill (HR 3081, above) for fiscal 2011, which will fund government operations until Dec. 3, at which time the post-election Congress will take up regular appropriations for the new budget year.

    D.C. area congressional votes Post 2010

  • The Senate approved $219 billion in stopgap spending bill (HR 3081, above) for fiscal 2011, which will fund government operations until Dec. 3, at which time the post-election Congress will take up regular appropriations for the new budget year.

    D.C. area congressional votes Post 2010

  • The nine bills would provide the funding and broadly divvy it up for the rest of fiscal year 2012, after Congress earlier passed a series of short-term stopgap measures.

    Lawmakers Reach Deal on Appropriations Bills Kristina Peterson 2011

  • Even as a short-term stopgap measure in high-needs areas, I think it's doing more harm to teaching than good.

    Shaun Johnson: Let Me Tell You About Teach for America Shaun Johnson 2011

  • Too often elections are a short-term stopgap for long-term problems.

    AN OPEN HAND, A CLOSED FIST 2007

  • MARY SCHIAVO, AVIATION SAFETY EXPERT: Unfortunately that is a very short-term stopgap measure.

    CNN Transcript Sep 25, 2001 2001

  • Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid comments on the Congress budget battle and says the House short-term stopgap plan is "a sure way to close the government."

    Breaking News: CBS News 2011

  • And Reid said Republicans were stalling and procrastinating by proposing another short-term stopgap to fund the government.

    Boston.com Top Stories 2011

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